Iraq's government was deeply split tonight after the country's vice-president and other Sunni leaders denounced an arrest warrant issued by the Shia interior ministry against a senior Islamic cleric.The cleric, Harith al-Dhari, heads the influential Association of Muslim Scholars, which has close contacts with the Sunni insurgency. But he has been out of Iraq for five months and it was unclear why the warrant was announced now. Tensions were already high after Shia and Sunni ministers clashed over the kidnapping this week of education officials. The kidnappers wore police uniforms and were thought to be Shia militiamen. Shia spokesmen accused Sunnis of exaggerating the incident, in which 50-150 people were seized and some were killed. In Jordan Mr Dhari denounced the warrant as "proof of the failure and the confusion of the Iraqi government". ... http://www.guardian.co.uk

Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate met on Fri with Robert Gates, the president's pick to replace Rumsfeld at the Pentagon, and said they want him confirmed before Democrats take control in January. "This is a major priority for the U S Senate, for our government," said Senate Majority leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, sitting in his office with Gates and Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell (news, bio, voting record), the current Senate's No. 2 Republican. Frist said confirmation hearings would start on Dec 5. "We're optimistic that Bob Gates will be confirmed here before the first of the year and get an opportunity to start his new position at the Department of Defense," said McConnell. Bush announced Rumsfeld long a magnet for global criticism of the U.S.-led war in Iraq was leaving and Gates was his choice to replace him the day after November 7 elections swept Republicans out of power in the next Congress. The result was driven largely by voter anger over the 3-1/2 year war in Iraq...http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061117/pl_nm/usa_congress_gates_dc

Alleging racial profiling, a UCLA student intends to sue after a campus police officer shot him with a Taser stun gun. The incident was caught on a cell phone camera, the third time in a week that police behavior in the Los Angeles area was criticized after amateur video surfaced.In the UCLA case, the student, who was stunned Tuesday night after he refused to show ID at a school library, thought he was being singled out because of his Middle Eastern appearance, his lawyer said.Attorney Stephen Yagman said he plans to file a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of the U.S.-born student, Mostafa Tabatabainejad. Yagman said Tabatabainejad, 23, declined to show his school ID because he thought he was being targeted for his appearance. His family is of Iranian descent....http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15765622/

Two of five foreigners kidnapped from a convoy of civilians in south Iraq have been freed, Iraqi officials say. An Austrian and four US security contractors were seized in the attack, which reportedly took place near Basra en route to Nasiriya on Thursday. Unconfirmed reports say the Austrian has been killed and an American wounded, but details are unclear. US officials in Baghdad said they could not confirm new releases. Nine civilians also held were already freed. Reports said British and US forces had been mounting raids in the area to find the hostages. The Basra provincial governor told the Associated Press: "Police were able to free two of the foreigners kidnapped and they are in good health". Unconfirmed reports said the kidnapping took place at a bogus checkpoint. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6157082.stm

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has told Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi in a letter that he is willing to consult Rome on working for peace in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East."The letter makes a commitment to dialogue," Prodi told reporters, saying the letter had been delivered to him personally in Rome by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Jalili. The United States and Britain recently raised the prospect of dialogue with Iran about neighboring Iraq, even though Israel is extremely critical of Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel's destruction. British Prime Minister Tony Blair has challenged Iran and Syria to help stabilize Iraq or face isolation, and a senior adviser to the U.S. secretary of state on Iraq said Washington was ready "in principle to discuss Iranian activities in Iraq." ...http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2661845

Republicans Friday chose Rep. John Boehner as minority leader, succeeding Speaker Dennis Hastert in the top GOP leadership post for the Democratic-controlled House that convenes in January. Boehner defeated Indiana conservative Mike Pence. The vote tally was 168-27 with one vote for Texas Rep. Joe Barton. Boehner's election cements the Ohio conservative's resurrection within GOP leadership ranks. His elevation to succeed Hastert as the party's front line leader came despite unrest within the rank and file and a spirited campaign by Pence. Shortly afterward, Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., won a 137-57 vote to keep his post as whip, which will be the No. 2 GOP job when Republicans become the minority party in January. Blunt is currently the No. 3 House Republican; he defeated Arizona conservative Rep. John Shadegg despite sentiment for fresh leadership faces. Boehner succeeded Tom DeLay, R-Texas, as majority leader in February and was easily elevated to replace Hastert, who ...http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20061117-122018-5834r.htm